Animation, BA (Hons), with industry placement

This animation degree empowers students to animate ideas through dynamic storytelling, blending traditional drawing skills with modern 2D, 3D, and stop-motion techniques. In a professional studio environment, you'll collaborate in teams, develop expertise in your chosen specialism, and build a portfolio via industry-standard pipelines. As a CILECT member institution, we offer learning from experienced staff in film, TV, and advertising, focusing on technical, creative, and theoretical aspects like character animation, narrative structures, and visual design.The curriculum spans four years: Year one introduces fundamental principles and software; year two emphasizes teamwork on live briefs; year three includes a professional placement for real-world experience; and year four culminates in a major project with pitching and production. Assessment involves portfolios, presentations, essays, and peer reviews, with ongoing feedback to ensure career readiness.

On this Animation degree, you'll develop your creative and technical skills, build professional practice approaches and hone your personal identity and autonomy within animation production. You'll master the art of your specialism in either 2D, 3D or stop motion animation and learn to present and pitch your ideas. Mirroring industry, you'll also work with multi-disciplinary teams to produce exciting, unique animation productions ready to make your mark in industry. Year One: In your first year, you'll explore 2D, 3D and stop-motion techniques to develop your understanding of the fundamental principles of animation. You'll build your knowledge of the animation pipeline and explore underpinning skills in drawing, design and techniques of film language, narrative structures and visual storytelling. You'll also learn to use industry-standard software to support all areas of your work. Modules: Animation Practice 1 Animation Practice 2 Underpinning 1 Production Design Design & Motion Underpinning 2 Year Two: In your second year, the emphasis is on collaboration. Working on a live client brief as part of a team, you'll enhance your awareness of communication, time management, responsibility and job roles within the animation industry. You'll continue to develop your expertise in your chosen industry specialism, while refining your underpinning skills in drawing and techniques of film language, narrative structures and visual storytelling. You'll also develop critical research, identifying and exploring a topic that's related to your area of interest. Modules: Planning Create Underpinning 3 Pre-production Collaboration Production Critical Proposal Year Three: You’ll be responsible for finding your own placement, with support from the employability team. Choosing this option will enhance your industry experience and skills while studying. How you’ll study during your professional placement You’ll spend time working in a professional context, as part of a business or organisation. This can be in one role, or up to three, and must be for a minimum of 24 weeks. You’ll develop in-demand workplace skills, deepen your insight into industry and grow your network of contacts, all of which could help you get ahead in your career after graduation. Throughout this year, you’ll develop a portfolio of work that includes critical self-reflection on what has been learned from the experience. You’ll be required to evidence your experiences, the skills you’ve learned and your professional growth. Year Four: Your third year is focused around the final major project. You'll have the opportunity to present your film idea and take part in a pitching process, with industry professionals selecting films to go into full production. You'll have complete creative control over the theme, concept and style of the project. Through the production process, you'll showcase your professional skills as you prepare to step into industry. Modules: Critical research Ideas and Development Major Pre-production Production Profile As part of our process of continuous improvement, we routinely review course content to ensure that all our students benefit from a high-quality and rewarding academic experience. As such, there may be some changes made to your course which are not immediately reflected in the content displayed on our website. Any students affected will be informed of any changes made directly.